Iowa - One probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Wright County

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For Immediate Release Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Dustin Vande Hoef 515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell) or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services0

ONE PROBABLE CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WRIGHT COUNTY CDC considers the risk to people to be low DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to a probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright County. With the new announcement, Iowa now has 67 cases of the disease in the state. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. Wright 4 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 1 million birds that has experienced increased mortality. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames. As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have ever been detected and there is no food safety risk for consumers. USDA UPDATE ON DEPOPULATION AND DISPOSAL The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Incident Response team in Iowa attended a town hall meeting in Malvern, Iowa last evening along with representatives of several state agencies. The meeting sought to answer questions and concerns of community members regarding transport and landfilling of organic materials at an Iowa Waste Systems site in Mills County. Two landfills, including one in Sheldon, have agreed to accept materials under criteria approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Although burial, composting, and on-site incineration at poultry premises have been used in some locations, materials have not yet been moved to public landfills. The thermal production unit, or incinerator, near the Cherokee County Landfill and Recycling Center, should be test-fired this afternoon. It will process feed and organic materials in loads that were staged there. “We are emphasizing biosecurity practices and encourage every poultry premises to do the same,” Dr. Mark Remick, operations commander of the USDA Incident Response team. .../ http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press...s05272015c.asp